Air filtration device for removing toilet bowl odor air

ABSTRACT

An air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl air, removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl air. The device consisting of an air intake body, conduit and Air Filtration housing that contains the impeller, motor, filter. A motion sensor on the air intake body or a pressure sensor on the toilet seat activates the on and off function of the motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This Invention relates generally to the field of machine and morespecifically to an Air Filtration Device for removing toilet bowl odorAir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to air filtration apparatus and, moreparticularly, to air filtration device that is configured for AC or DCproviding power for the device, toilet bowl air odor flowing into anintake on the front surface of the device and filtered air being emittedthrough vents on the side of the device.

As the toilet bowl odor air in general becomes more polluted and thegeneral population becomes more aware of discomforts with toilet bowlodor air, filtration device of all shapes, types and sizes become morepopular. One type of air filtration device provides a small fan for usein the toilet bowl environment. This device typically will include an ACor DC fan contained in a small housing for use, with a filter throughwhich the air is directed for removal of toilet bowl air. These smallfans are useful for removing toilet bowl odor air, since they typicallytake up little space themselves and move a relatively large volume oftoilet bowl odor air. Such designs, while effective, leave room forimprovement in the areas of air dispersion and filter management.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The advantages of the invention are its hands free operation and itsability to remove contaminated toilet bowl odor where it starts in thetoilet bowl, keeping the bathroom atmosphere free of odor, eliminatingthe odor almost.

An air filtration device provides for an intake of toilet bowl odor air,an device for removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl odor air,expulsion of filtered air and configured for hands free automaticoperation the device includes at least an air intake body, a conduitwith an air flow path having at least one air outlet a filtrationhousing containing at least one air intake, and at least one air outletsaid air outlet may be formed in the front of the housing with slots forcooperation of filtered air expulsion from said outlet. A filter ismounted to the housing in the air flow outlet and an impeller isprovided for moving air through the housing along the air flow path fromthe air inlet to the air outlet, with the impeller being mounted to thehousing.

The air outlet may be formed on at least one side of surface and the airflow path may be defined from the air inlet on the toilet surfacethrough the air conduit through the air flow path and outwardly throughthe filtered air outlet. An outlet may be flat or curved and the airoutlet may be formed as a series of vents along curvature of the outlet.The filter can be formed as a generally planar member selectivelyremovable from the housing and can include a notch formed therein fordirecting insertion of the filter in a correct orientation with respectto the air flow path. The housing may include a locating surface thereinan corresponding with the notch in the filter to orient the filter inthe housing.

The air filtration device may include an alternating current or directcurrent motor for driving the impeller.

The air filtration device may further include an indicator forcommunicating that the filter should be changed, the indicator providinginformation after a predetermined period of operation of the airfiltration device has passed. An impeller may be alternating current ordirect current driven and the indicator may be alternating current ordirect current timer circuit operationally associated with the impellerfor determining when a predetermined time of impeller operation haspassed.

A lamp may be mounted to the housing for illumination when the impelleris in operation, with the lamp in alternating current or direct currentcommunication with the alternating current or direct current timercircuit and configured to provide pulsating illumination when apredetermined time of impeller operation has passed. A reset switch maybe provided in alternating current or direct current to selectivelyreset the alternating current or direct current timer circuit to a zerooperational time setting after replacement of the filter.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations onthat which is described above may be achieved by addition or omission ofthe features above described.

Accordingly, an air filtration device is provided for intake of toiletbowl odor air, assistance in removal of contaminants from the toiletbowl odor air, expulsion of filtered air and configurable for hands freeautomatic operation. The device includes at least an air intake housing,an conduit with an air flow path having at least one air outlet, afiltration housing containing at least one air inlet, and at least oneair outlet an air outlet may be formed in the front of the housing withslots for cooperation of filtered air expulsion from said outlet.

The air filtration device may include an indicator for communicatingthat the filter should be changed; the indicator providing informationafter a predetermined period of operation of the air filtration devicehas passed. The impeller may be driven by alternating current or directcurrent and the indicator may include an alternating current or directcurrent timer circuit operationally engaged with the impeller fordetermining when a predetermined timer of impeller operation has passed.The air filtration device also may include a lamp mounted to the housingfor illumination when the impeller is in operation, the lamp being inalternating current or direct current communication with the alternatingcurrent or direct current timer circuit and configured to providepulsating illumination when a predetermined time of impeller operationhas passed. a reset switch may be provided in alternating current ordirect current communication with the alternating current or directcurrent timer circuit to selectively reset the alternating current ordirect current timer circuit to zero operational timer setting afterreplacement of filter. It should be understood that the above describedfeatures may be combined under a single, full-featured unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention on anexisting toilet.

FIG. 2 Is a prospective view of an air filtration unit free standingwith all its pertinent parts in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 Is a prospective view of the air flow path of the invention.

FIG. 4 Is a prospective view of the air intake body with associatedmotion sensor and electronic connector.

FIG. 5 Is a prospective view of the filtration housing of the invention.

FIG. 6 Is exploded view of the filtration housing and its components.

FIG. 7 Is a prospective view of the base plate for the filtrationhousing device illustrated in FIG. 5

FIG. 8 Is a prospective view of a new designed of toilet seat and itsassociated air intake body.

FIG. 9 Is a prospective view of the new toilet with built-in air intakebody.

FIG. 10 A prospective view of new toilet connected to a wall mountedfiltration unit.

FIG. 11 Is a exploded view of the embodiment of the wall mountedfiltration unit of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly to FIGS. 1,2 an airfiltration device for intake of toilet bowl odor air, filtration oftoilet bowl odor air and emission of filtered air. The general air flowpath is illustrated in FIG. 3 which includes at least one intake housingand at least one air duct #22 and an air filtration housing #125.

Turning now to FIG. 4 illustrated is an air intake body #75 with amotion sensor on the side #52, this sensor is at least one method toactivate the device of its on and off function. When it detects movementit sends a signal through a electronic connector #21 to control module#28 the device which activates the motor.

Turning now to FIGS. 5,6, an air filtration housing, the internalcomponents of the device #125 are illustrated it will be appreciatedthat in odor to filter contaminated air, an air flow path is definedthrough the housing illustrated in FIG. 3 air movement is archived byuse of an impeller #29-30. Rotation of the impeller is created by anelectric motor #33 is powered by alternating current or direct currentpowered by batteries #23-24. With a command from the motion sensor #52or, command from the pressure sensor #53 a signal is transmitted throughthe electrical connector #21 to the control module #28, the controlmodule activates the motor and cylindrical impeller that draws air fromthe toilet bowl through the air intake body, conduit, filtration housingand outwardly through the filter #34 and back into the atmosphere.

The control module and motor may be alternating current or directcurrent operated. The control module #28 controls the on and off switchwhich is also connected to a light emitting diode (LED) #27 that blinkswhen it is time to change the filter. In an Industrial setting thecontrol module #47 controls the flushing operation of the toilet plusthe fan duration and function counter for the filter change.

Turning now to FIG. 7 a base plate that holds the filtration housing inplace. The plate is locked down on the toilet body by the existing tiedown bolt of the toilet.

Turning now to FIG. 8 a preferred embodiment for a new toilet seat #201with built-in pressure sensor #53 and adjoining electronic connectorwith the back of the seat containing air slots for adjoining air intakebody #76.

Turning now to FIG. 9 in the preferred embodiment of the invention a newdesigned toilet body #300 with built-in air intake housing #77illustrated with an air inlet and an air outlet behind the toilet body.in the particular device illustrated in FIG. 10 is a new toilet bowl#300 connected to preferred embodiment of the wall mounted filtrationhousing #126.

Turning now to FIG. 11 exploded view of internal components of wallmounted filtration housing the inner casing #41 mounted inside the walland housing all the components. First is the Manuel flush button #P1which is a pre-existing invention. Next is the motion sensor #72 alsopre-existing invention which will send a signal to the control module#47 that will control the motor and propeller #43 and #44. It will alsocontrol the flush function electronically by means of an electronicvalve #p3 which is also a pre-existing invention. The fan and motormounted inside the support frame #45 are bolted inside the blower unitbody #46. The front cover #39 connected by hinges to the filtration door#40 is mounted to the front of the inner casing #41. The filtration door#40 consisting of slots houses the filter #42.

1. An Air Filtration Device for intake of toilet bowl odor, removal ofcontaminants from toilet bowl air, expulsion of filtered air said airfiltration device comprising: Air intake body air conduit filtrationhousing: Filtration housing defining an air flow path there through andhaving a separable air intake body, connected by a conduit
 2. An airfiltration device according to claim 1 wherein said air intake bodycontains an air flow path there through and having a top surface, sidesurface and bottom surface. At least one air inlet formed in side frontsurface body. At least one air outlet formed in said body intermediate.3. An air filtration device according to claim 2 wherein said air intakebody is incorporated into the main body of a new designed toilet.Re-designed toilet comprising of an air inlet inside toilet body, and anair outlet on the exterior back side of the body.
 4. An air filtrationdevice according to claim 1 wherein said air intake body is situated ontop of existing toilet between toilet seat and water tank, held in placeby the toilet seat bolts.
 5. An air filtration device according to claim4 wherein said air intake body plate aligns over existing holes for thetoilet seat with toilet seat mounts on top of the plate holes.
 6. An airfiltration device according to claim 5 and further comprising of amotion sensor with electronic connector mounted on the side of theintake body.
 7. An air filtration device for intake of toilet bowl odor,removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl air, expulsion of filteredair said air filtration device comprising of an air duct with at leastan air intake and an air outlet. An electric connector formed to saidlength of conduit, said air inlet connected to the air intake body, saidair outlet connected to an air filtration device.
 8. An air filtrationdevice for intake of toilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants from thetoilet bowl air, expulsion of filtered air said air filtration devicecomprising of an air filtration housing with a defined air flow paththere through having an air inlet and an air outlet.
 9. An airfiltration device according to claim 8 and further comprising of animpeller of a cylindrical design that draws air from the toilet bowlthrough an air intake body and through conduit and a filtration housingand outwardly through the filter and back into the atmosphere.
 10. Anair filtration device according to claim 9 and further comprising of anelectric motor that drives the impeller, said motor is supported withinfilter housing and powered by alternating current or direct current. 11.An air filtration device according to claim 10 and further comprising acontrol module that sends power from the batteries to the electricmotor. The module receives a signal from the pressure sensor on thetoilet seat or motion sensor on the air intake body and starts themotor. The module controls the duration of operation cycles of theimpeller plus controls timer for filtration change.
 12. An airfiltration device according to claim 11 and further comprising of a lampmounted to said housing for illumination when said filter needsreplacing, said lamp includes a switch to reset timer to zero andcontrols power to the control module.
 13. An air filtration deviceaccording to claim 9 and further comprising an filter located inside airflow path. The housing may include an icon formed at a pointcorresponding with an notch in the filter for enhanced visual indicationof proper filter orientation when the filter is inserted in the housing.14. An air filtration device according to claim 13 wherein said filteris contained in filter cover located in said front of device, cover maybe curved in shape and have series of vents for enhanced dispersion offilter air.
 15. An air filtration device according to claim 8 andfurther comprising an filtration housing base plate. Said plate ispermanently attached to toilet by the toilet base tie down bolt; Thefiltration housing can be easily installed and removed from the base bymeans of two (2) bolts.
 16. An air filtration device for intake oftoilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants from the toilet bowl air, andexpulsion of filtered air. Said air filtration device comprising of newdesigned toilet seat with pressure sensors and accompanying electricalconnectors built into the body of the new design the toilet seat maycontain air slots to aid in the removal of contaminated air. The toiletsseat's shape and design will constantly change to fit all manufacturesand toilet designs. The accompanying air intake body will also have tochange to fit new designs.
 17. An air filtration device for intake oftoilet bowl odor, removal of contaminants form the toilet bowl air,expulsion of filtered air. Said air filtration device comprising of wallmounted air filtration housing containing an inner casing mounted insidethe wall, which houses all the components and to which the front panelbolts onto.
 18. An air filtration device according to claim 17 whereinsaid inner casing conations the Blower Unit Body which houses: fan,motor, support frame. Blower Unit Body has an air inlet and an airoutlet. Air inlet is connected by a duct to the new toilet design with abuilt in air intake body. The air outlet is formed in said housing frontwhich forces air outward through the filter mounted on front cover doorwhich has air slots for easy dispersion of filtered air.
 19. An airfiltration device according to claim 17, and further comprising of acontrol module which takes care of all electrical functions associatedwith the device. A motion sensor detects movement and sends a signal tothe control module in turn sending power to the motor and impeller. Themodule also controls the flushing by means of the electric valve. Thedevice is also equipped with a manual flush.